Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence
Columbia University Irving Medical Center is a designated Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence (RCOE). The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting patients, and assisting in scientific advances in Lewy Body dementias, made this designation in 2017. Columbia was among the first group of such centers, now numbering 26 nationally, in which there are leading LBD clinicians to which LBD patients and their families can turn for advanced LBD diagnosis and treatment. LBD includes both Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. The LBDA Research Center of Excellence is based in the Department of Neurology, Division of Aging and Dementia, and the Taub Institute. The Center includes eight neurologists, one psychiatrist, two nurse practitioners, two social workers, and clinical and research staff who work as a team to support patients and the LBD community. This team is committed to conducting LBD research, providing excellent LBD care, community outreach, and support.
Click here to visit LBDA Official Site
Lewy Body Disease Association RCOE Leadership Team
- Principal Investigator: Lawrence S. Honig, MD, PhD, FAAN
- Principal Investigator: Karen S. Marder, MD, MPH, FAAN
- Research Nurse: Lambrini Whitney, MS, RD, RN (email: lnw2109@cumc.columbia.edu)
LBD News
- “Lewy Body Dementia: Hope Through Research”
- “Genetic study of Lewy body dementia supports ties to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases”
- “Challenges and opportunities for improving the landscape for Lewy body dementia clinical trials”
Current LBD Studies
Targeting Lewy Body Specific Pathology Using Biomarkers
This study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, is designed to allow us to better diagnose Lewy Body disorders.
- Who can participate?
- An individual may be able to take part in the study if they:
- Have been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies OR
- Have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease with cognitive changes AND
- They speak English or Spanish.
- An individual may be able to take part in the study if they:
- What is involved?
- Participants will have up to three visits over two years.
- Participants will have a comprehensive neurological evaluation.
- Assessment of cognition and mood.
- Donate blood samples.
- Optionally donate cerebrospinal fluid samples.
- To learn more information, please email Helen Mejia Santana at hm28@cumc.columbia.edu or call (212) 305-8873.
- Principal Investigators: Drs. Karen S. Marder and Lawrence S. Honig.
Drug Studies
Outreach
- Beginning in fall of 2020, we hosted a virtual seminar series focused on highlighting LBD issues and resources available at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- We covered a wide range of topics related to Lewy Body Disorders including Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia.
- These seminars were recorded, and each video includes Q&A sessions.
- To be added to the quarterly update newsletter for Parkinson’s Disease patients, please email Erika Adelman, LCSW, SIFI at era2142@cumc.columbia.edu.
- View our recent video seminar series “Living with Lewy Body Disorders”:
- Lewy Body Disorders Research Update
- Lewy Body Disorders Disease Overview
- Lewy Body Disorders Speech and Swallowing Presentation
- Lewy Body Disorders Social Work and Caregiver Support
- Exercise for Lewy Body Disorders
- Lewy Body Disorders Cognitive Impairment
- Fall Prevention for Lewy Body Disorders
- Lewy Body Disorders Palliative Care/Hospice Care
Events
New events we host will be listed on the Department of Neurology's events calendar.